Common Mistakes in English Grammar: Redundant Determiners

In the English language, grammar mistakes are quite common, especially when it comes to determiners. One common mistake that often goes unnoticed is the use of redundant determiners. These are unnecessary words that are added to a sentence and do not contribute to its meaning.

Redundant Determiner: 'In (an) Alphabetical Order'

One particular example of a redundant determiner is the phrase 'in (an) alphabetical order'. This mistake commonly occurs when people are listing items or organizing information. For instance:

• She arranged the books in an alphabetical order.
• He organized his files in alphabetical order.

In both of these examples, the determiner 'an' or 'in' is unnecessary. The phrase 'alphabetical order' already implies that things are being arranged in a specific sequence. Therefore, the correct usage should be:

• She arranged the books in alphabetical order.
• He organized his files in alphabetical order.

By removing the redundant determiner, the sentences become more concise and grammatically correct.

Using redundant determiners not only adds unnecessary words to your sentences but may also confuse the reader. It is important to ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and free from any grammatical errors. To help catch and correct such mistakes, you can use tools like the Linguix grammar checker, which identifies and suggests corrections for grammar and style issues.